[Strayhorn, in same red/black outfit as other ads in front of same white background as other ads] "I'd be embarrassed. Our public schools still can't count on funding [bottom right of screen now reads "Carole Keeton Strayhorn" above "OneToughGrandma.com"] but our governor has a $320 million corporate welfare slush fund [screen focuses more on her face]. That's not Robin Hood, that's robbin' everybody. And it's wrong. Let's get rid of our governor's slush fund and ban all gifts from lobbyists [accompanying text on screen]. I want Austin to hear our voices. I'm Carole Keeton Strayhorn. This Grandma wants to shake Austin up.

I think it might be possible to score political points against the governor's Texas Enterprise Fund, but I don't think this is it. The ad doesn't really tie the Fund to any emotional reaction voters might have. And then it scatters on to issues that are tangential.

At first, I was going to take issue with the Perry's camp assertion that this was a "negative attack ad." As I started to write why it wasn't, I had to stop. I guess it sorta is an attack on the governor, but it's so oblique that I don't think this will drive the governor's unfavorable numbers up any.

Here are the two reasons why I don't think this ad is all that effective:

1. It's too obtuse and unfocused. After viewing this ad, what does your average voter think or feel? Is it motivating? Does it affect my everyday life?
2. It's too similar to her other ads. I think that if I weren't looking for it, I wouldn't have paid attention, because I would've assumed that this was an ad I'd already seen.

Alex Castellanos does Strayhorn's media, and he's done some great spots in the past. But I haven't seen any great spots so far in this campaign.